Teaching device for attachment to a keyboard instrument

ABSTRACT

A device non-integral with the keyboard instrument with which it is used is activated through sheet, card or substitute keyboard means to activate in turn indicating heads mounted over the keyboard of an organ, piano or similar instrument and which designate the keys to be played by lighting or solenoid controlled means. The control sheet or card may utilize raised, indented, or apertured sheets or cards detected through various type contact or photocell means which feed the signal through an electronic relay to the indicating means.

O Ulllted States Patent i191 i111 3,709,085 Del Castillo [451 Jan. 9,1973 [54] TEACHING DEVICE FOR 1,112,657 i0/i9i4 Reed s4/147 ATTACHMENTTO A KEYBOARD 1,187,697 6/1916 Austin ..84/147 1,530,123 3/1925J0nes..... 84/166 X INSTRUMENT 1,696,901 1/1929 Bostelman. ..84/478 [76]Inventor: Juan M. Del Castillo, Risco No. 119, 2,452,034 10/1948Campbell .....340/373 Mexico, Mexico 2,505,608 4/1950 Edwards ..84/4703,069,959 12/1962 Foufounis et al ..84/477 [22] Filed: April 20, 19713,235,265 2/1966 Morrison etai 274/41 x 3,335,630 8/1967 Schmoyer..84/478 [2l] Appl' No" 135601 3,456,546 7/1969 welsh etai s4/47s3,595,122 7/1971 Brediceanu ..84/484 [30] Foreign Application PriorityData Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Aug. 3, 1970 Mexfco ..121258Assistant Examiner Lawl-ence R Franklin June 26, 1970 Mexico......120372 Att0mey Ka-| W. Flocks June 26, 1970 Mexico.... 120373 June 26,1970 Mexico.... ..120374 [57] ABSTRACT J l 10,1970 M ..120687 uy exlco Adevice non-integral with the keyboard instrument [52] U.S CL l 84H6684/147 84/478 with which it is used is activated through sheet, card 116/128 or substitute keyboard means to activate in turn in- [51] lm C.Glos 5/04 dicating heads mounted over the keyboard of an or- [58] Fied470 477 gan, piano or similar instrument and which designate the keys tobe played by lighting or solenoid con- 84/478 116/128 274/4 J 340/373trolled means. The control sheet or card may utilize [56] ReferencesCited raised, indented, or apertured sheets or cards detected throughvarious type contact or photocell means UNITED STATES PATENTS which feedthe signal through an electronic relay to the indicating means. 498,5735/1893 Riegger ..84/166 X 1,107,558 8/1914 Turney ..84/166 17 Claims, 17Drawing Figures PATENTE() JM 9 |973 SHEET 1 UE 7 f IN'VENTOR l LIANMgDELCASTILLO l.. UX'FOCKS ATTORNEY PAIENIEDJM 9 |915 3.7091385 SHEET 8 8F 7INVENTOR JUAN M DEL CASTILLO BLKPHL @ROCKS ATTORS'Y PATENTEUJAN 91975 3.709,085

SHEET 3 UF 7 INVENTOR JUAN MDEL CASTILLO BYARL FLocKs ATromTs'PATENIEDJAH 91975 3, 709,085

SHEET u nr 7 INVENTOR JUAN MDEL CAsTlLLO B KARL LJQOQKS PATENIEUJM 9Isra SHEET 5 UF 7 will 59o l "mit" INVENTOR i 41' v. JLLII MDEL CASTILLOu ATTORNEY BYA QL. LQ FLOCKS PATENIEDJAN 9ms 709.085

' SHEU s UF 7 INVENTOR JUAN M.D:E.L CASTILL Blll. LFOCKS I ATTORNEYPATENIEUJM 9 |915 SHEET 7 UF 7 INVENTOR JUAN MDIL CASTILLO ATTORNEYTEACHING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO A KEYBOARD INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention refers to a teaching device tofacilitate learning to play melodies on any keyboard driven musicalinstrument and in particular it refers to such a teaching device whichmay be easily mounted on such a keyboard instrument without anyalterations to the internal portions of the musical instrument if it isnot desirable to make such alterations. A selected musical score used inthe device will activate lights and/or solenoids to designate the keysas they are to be played thereby allowing a pupil to play the music byfollowing the lights or alternatively to listen to the music beingplayed while noting the keys which are being used to play this music.

The prior art has disclosed teaching devices with light designated keysin accordance with some control record sheet or card and also hasdisclosed means of playing a keyboard instrument automatically throughsuch means coupled with solenoid or similar means. But in all cases inthe prior art, the means to accomplish this has been structure whichrequires extensive alterations to the keyboard instrument or mustnecessarily have been built into the instrument at the time ofmanufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a teaching device which may be controlled so as to indicate thekeys in order and in proper time relation to each other which are to beplayed on a keyboard musical instrument to allow a pupil to play musicthereon.

It is a further object of the present invention that such teachingdevice be easily mountable upon the keyboard musical instrument withoutany disturbance to the internal portions of the musical instrument, and,in effect, be made so as to be easily portable and used without changebetween several similar type keyboard musical instruments.

It is a further object of the present invention to designate the properkeys to be played by optical means and to allow the simultaneous playingof these keys automatically when such combination use is desired.

It is a still further object of the present invention that the controlof such indicating means be through use of a record sheet or card havingeither raised portions, indented portions, or transparent windows orapertures therethrough.

Another object of the present invention is that the control means bc asimulated keyboard operated by a teacher to control the indicating meanswhich will allow a pupil to follow the teacher in the operation of theproper keys on the keyboard.

Basically, the present invention utilizes a control means which iseither a reading head or a simulated keyboard which sends electricalsignals'to indicating heads mounted over a keyboard or keyboards tolight specific keys and manipulate these keys where desired inaccordance with the music to be played on said musical instrument.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above, as well as further objectsand advantages which are inherent in the invention,will become apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the device of the present inventionmounted for operation on an organ;

FIG. IA is an enlarged perspective diagrammatic view of a reading headwithout its cover and an enlarged showing of the indicating head with abroken away portion showing details of mounting said indicating head;

FIG. 2 is a combination wiring diagram schematic in diagrammatic view ofone embodiment of an overall system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view with broken away portion of a reading headhaving the embodiment of the reading device portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view ofa second embodiment of a reading headutilizing a different form of control sheet;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the reading head of FIG. 4 takenalong line 5 S;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a form of the record sheet or card usedwith the reading head of FIGS. 4 and 5 and also with other embodimentsdescribed below;

FIG. 6A is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view ofa portion ofamodified record sheet or card;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of a readinghead of the present invention which is a variation of that shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 and which may also be used with the record sheet or cardof FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a reading head ofthe present invention;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the reading head of FIG. 8 takenalong line 9 9;

FIG. l0 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a reading headof the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the reading head of FIG. 10taken along line 11- l1;

FIG. l2 is a sheet or card form for use with the reading head shown inFIGS. l0 and ll;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an indicatinghead that can be used with the apparatus of FIG. l;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view of FIG. 13 taken along line I4 14;and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the teaching device ofthe presentinvention with a different control means utilizing a teachers keyboardto control an indicating head as in FIGS. l and 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. l, thereis shown a form of the teaching device ofthe present invention mountedfor use with an organ. A reading head l0 which need not occupy too muchspace is placed on a convenient surface such as the top of the organ or,alternatively, it may be placed on a small table beside the organ. Suchpositioning is merely for the convenience of one who will feed therecord sheet or card to the reading head l0. Attached by cables ll tothe reading head l0 are indicating heads 12 which may be attached to themusical instrument over the keyboards 14 or may be merely stood over thekeyboards 14 on their legs 21 which support the housing 22 of theindicating heads 12 over the keyboards 14 of the organ. In each of thehousings 22 there are mounted a plurality of bulbs 23 and solenoids 24electrically connected to the cable 11 from the reading head 10. As canbe noted in FIG. l, the organ shown therein has two sets of keys 14 anda set of foot pedals 14 each of which has an indicating head 12 standingover it. The number of indicating heads l2 can, of course, be adapted toconform to the keyboard instrument being used since in the case of apiano there being only one set of keys 14, only one indicating head 12may be necessary, and since the foot pedals do not control as much ofthe musical instrument as in the organ, no indicating head 12 may benecessary for use with the foot pedals of the piano.

As can be seen, no actual attachment of any portion of the teachingdevice is necessary to the organ and this device may be easilytransferred from one musical instrument to another of the same typewithout difficulty or alterations to the musical instrument. It isoptional whether the indicating heads merely stand on their legs 21 overthe keyboards 14, 14 or whether a screw attachment to the piano surfaceis made.

As shown in the detail view in FIG. 1A, in each of the housings 22 ofindicating heads l2 there is located a plurality of solenoids 24, eachhaving a plunger 25 which contacts a key of keyboard 14. Also mounted inthe housing 22 are a plurality of light bulbs 23 with each of the bulbshaving a lens portion 26 in its tip which allows a concentration of thelight on the particular key being designated to be played.

ln FIG. 2 there is shown a diagrammatic view of the device of FIG. lwith one of the embodiments of a reading head 110 used with the presentinvention shown therein. This embodiment of the reading head 110 isshown in a perspective view in FIG. 3.

A record sheet 40 is fed in through the guide 51 past the plurality ofcontacts 52 which are arranged transversely of the guide 51 and recordsheet 40 and are separated by insulated separators 53 to prevent lateralmovement of the contact 52. The record sheet 40 is fed into the rollers54, 55 wherein the upper roller 54 is connected through its axle 56 to aconstant speed motor 57 and the idler roller 55 below it is mounted in asupport 58 on a compression spring or springs 59 which supports theholder 58 for the axle 60 for the idler roller 55. The record sheet 40is then continued in its travel against the curved surface of the back61 of the reading head 110 and curves back and out of the reading head.An additional contact 62 shown is connected to a microswitch 63 andpositioned for alignment with notch 49 (FIG. l2) so that immediatelybefore the passage of the end of the record sheet 40 the current throughthe contacts 52 is shut off to prevent the possibility of too muchcurrent through all contacts 52 making contact with the conductingsurface 64 mounted on an insulated base 65 and thereby burning out theequipment. The record sheet 40 which in the present case is shown ashaving apertures 4l therethrough passes beneath the contacts 52 and whenan aperture 4l passes beneath the contact 52, the contact 52 is allowedto drop into the space 41 therein in the card or sheet 40 and contactthe conducting surface 64. This closes the circuit wherein current ispassed through the electronic relay 66 with the transistor 67 andresistors 68-70 in the configuration shown so as to pass current to theindicating head or heads l2. Depending upon which contact 52 closes, thecircuit to the connecting solenoid 24 or light bulb 23 is activated. Theswitches 71-73 shown in the housing, which of course are merely shownthere for convenience, and may be mounted in any convenient place,determine whether it is to be used to show the key designated (switch71) or whether a plunger on the respective solenoid will be activated(switch 72) through the switching arrangement shown. Either or both(switch 73) may be activated. The bulbs 23 preferably each have lensportion 26 in their tip which allows a concentration ofthe light on theparticular key designated. Instead of using such a special bulb, it ispossible to include a housing for each bulb having a lens portion in itstip which will operate in a like manner to the bulb shown. The constantspeed motor 57 which operates in the reading head so as to move therecord sheet 40 through at a properly designated timing for the musicbeing played may be made to operate at variable speeds for setting inaccordance with the proper tempo of the music being played. A simplerheostat arrangement will accomplish this but is not shown in thedrawings.

A second embodiment in a reading head which may be used in this deviceof the present invention is reading head 210 shown in the perspectiveview of FIG. 4 and the vertical sectional view of FIG. 5. The electricalconnections between the units are the same but in this case a twin wheelroller 254 to move the record sheet or card 44 is used as shown, withthis roller 254 being driven by a constant speed motor 57. The roller254 could also be effective with a single or more than two wheels. Therecord sheet 44 utilized in this embodiment has raised portions 45thereon and is of the type shown in FIG. 6. As the roller feeds recordsheet 44 past the contact 252, the contact 252 is raised upon beingpushed up by a raised portion 45 on the sheet 44 and makes contact witha common conductor 264 thereby closing the circuit so that the circuitfrom that individual contact 252 is closed to a designated lamp 23 orsolenoid 24 in the indicating head 12 as in the case with the previousembodiment. Insulated supports 275 and 276 shown merely limit thedownward and upward movement of the contact 252 respectively, with theupward motion limited through the positioning of the common conductor264 thereabove and lateral movements limited by insulated separatorsshown similarly to insulated separators 53 in a previous embodiment.

It has been found that when the raised portions 45 are utilized on therecord sheet or card 44, the apparatus will work in a much better mannerwith sloped forward edges 46 and sloped rear edges 47 on raised portions45. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6A, the sheet or card 44 may have araised portion 45' with a channel or groove 48 in its top surface andcut from sloping surface 46', as shown in order to help guide contact252. In utilizing such raised portions a mold may be made up for aparticular musical pattern and this mold may be used to stamp out recordsheets or cards 44 in large quantities very inexpensively and with moreaccuracy and speed than might be found in some punching operations whenutilizing an apertured card or sheet 40. It has also been found that theraised portions 45 tend to endure in some cases due to the material usedin making these records sheets 44 as well and in some cases better thanthe aperture cards 40.

A third embodiment of the reading head which will utilize the recordsheet 44 shown in FIG. 6 is reading head 310 shown in FIG. 7. Thisvariation of the reading head previously discussed in connection withFIGS. 4 and 5 also utilizes a twin wheeled roller 254, although a singlewheeled roller or one having additional wheels can be used, operated bya constant speed motor to advance the record sheet or card 44, with theraised portion 45 thereon, past the row of contacts. But in this caseeach of the contacts 352 has its own individual microswitch 378 and uponthe operation of contact 352 by a raised portion 45, the circuit whichis closed by that microswitch 378 operates in the manner previouslydescribed to operate a light 23 or solenoid 24 in the indicating head12.

A fourth embodiment of a reading head which may be operated within thewiring as described in FIG. 2 is reading head 410 shown in theperspective view and vertical sectional view of FIGS. 8 and 9,respectively. Again a twin wheeled roller 254 operated by a constantspeed motor 57 is shown to be used to feed the card or sheet 44 to thecontacts 452. Also, as mentioned with some previous embodiments, thecard or record sheet 44 of FIG. 6 is used having raised portions 45 tooperate the contacts 452. The contacts 452 in this case are mounted soas to have a common pivot rod 480 through all of the contacts 452situated transversely of the moving record sheet 44 and a feeler point481 below and just past the pivot rod 480 connected to an arm 482 whichrests on a support member483. On the opposite end of. arm 482 fromfeeler point 481 and vpivot rod 480 there is an insulated member 484with a contact finger 485 attached thereto connected to the cable 11having its opposite end from the insulated member 484 resting upon acontact limit support 486. Above this contact finger is located asupport 476 having a common wire 464 attached thereto. In operation, therecord sheet or card 44 is advanced by the roller 254 toward and beneaththe feeler point 481 which upon encountering the raised portion 45 isthereby raised, causing the arm 482 to pivot about the pivot rod 480,thereby raising the opposite end of the arm from the feeler point 481,raising the insulated member 484 and thereby raising the contact finger485 into contact with the common wire 464, and closing the circuit whichmay be similar to that shown in FIG. 2. The solenoid 24 or lamp 23associated with that contact finger 485 is then operated.

A fifth embodiment ofa reading head for the present invention is readinghead 510 shown in perspective and vertical sectional view in FIGS. l0and 1l, respectively. This form of the reading head operates with arecord sheet or card 40' of the type shown in FIG. 12 having aperturesor transparent windows 4l through an opaque surface 42. The record sheetor card 40' is fed along guide 551 and between guide S87 and guide base588. The record sheet 40' then passes between the photocell 589 and thelamp 590 over the aperture 591. With this embodiment, whenever anopening 41 in the cardor sheet 40' coincides with the aperture 591, thelight from the lamp 590 is detected by the photocell 589 mounted onsupport 592 and the circuit to the appropriate electronic relay 66 andits indicating lamp 23 or solenoid 24 is closed. In a manner similar toa previous embodiment, the roller 554 driven by a constant speed motor57 moves the record sheet 40' in timed relation to the notes thereonwhereby the music may be played with the proper tempo.

A different embodiment of indicating heads from that previouslydescribed may be used as shown by indicating head 112 in FIGS. 13 and14. In this embodiment an arm 127 drops down onto the key and therebydesignates the key to be pushed instead of through use of a lamp as inthe previous embodiment. The solenoid 128 which has been connected in amanner shown in FIG. 2 is controlled by a contact 52 in the reading headand upon the circuit being closed by the particular contact 52 connectedto that solenoid 128, the arm 127 has its back portion drawn to thesolenoid 128, thereby causing the arm 127 to pivot on the hinge 129attached to the arm 127 and to the housing 122 and to drop down onto thekey against the force of the compression spring 130 attached between thehousing 122 and the arm 127. It is possible that some distinctive colormay be used on the horizontal portion 131 so that the key to be pressedis clearly brought to the attention of the pupil. Upon opening up thecircuit to the solenoid 128 the spring 130 returns the arm 127 into araised position into the bottom of the housing 122. As with the previousembodiment the housing 122 is mounted on legs 121 which allow it to beplaced in a position over the keyboard 14 without any alteration to thekeyboard instrument whether it be an organ or a piano or similar typemusical instrument.

ln some cases instead of utilizing a reading head as the control meansfor the indicating head, it has been found preferable when a teacher isavailable tov allow the teacher to operate the control. means. In suchcase a teachers keyboard 693 islconnected to indicating` means 12 as isshown in FIG. 15. In this case the teachers keyboard A693 is composed ofkeys 694 similar in number and position'to those found on the musicalinstrument being taught. Each of the keys is pivoted at a point 695 witha spring 696 to return it to its normal position of rest after beingpressed and released. A microswitch or some sort of push-button switch697 located below each key 694 is wired so as to operate by closing thecircuit to the lamp 23 or solenoid 24 over the similarly placed key onthe keyboard 14 of the piano or organ of the pupil. At the same time,either in order to allow the pupil to find the proper keys withoutlooking at the musical instrument keyboard, or in order to allow theinstruction to be conducted for more than one pupil, a keyboard panel698 is also connected so as to have a light 699 operated on the properkey in accordance with the key 694 pressed down on the teacher'skeyboard 693 and the switch 697 operated therebeneath. This controlmeans and indicating means should be as portable and interchangeableamong similar type musical instruments as the forms previously describedand may be used in a similar manner for teaching a pupil.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention, such as thevariations in the reading head of FIG. 1A which is not described indetail. Therefore the invention is not to be considered limited to whatis shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

What is claimed is: 1. A teaching device for use with a keyboardinstrument having a plurality of keys comprising indicating means toindicate the key of the keyboard instrument to be played; and controlmeans to determine the key of the keyboard instrument to be played,electrically connected to said indicating means; said indicating meansincluding a housing for said indicating means,

indicators in said housing located over each of the plurality of keys,and

support means to support said housing over the keys of the keyboardinstrument, attached to said housing;

said indicators in said indicating means each including a bulb situatedto concentrate the light from said bulb on a key therebelow,

a solenoid and plunger electrically connected to operate in unison withthe lighting of said bulb to operate the key with said plunger.

2. The teaching device of claim l, further characterized by said bulbhaving lens means to aid the concentration of the light from said bulbon the key below. 3. The teaching device of claim 2, furthercharacterized by said lens means integral with said bulb located betweenthe filament and the key in the end opposite from the socket andfilament. 4. The teaching device of claim l, further characterized byrecord sheet means having openings to pass light therethrough moved insaid control means; said control means including guide means to guidethe movement of said record sheet means in said control means having aplurality of apertures located transversely of said guide means and thedirection of movement of said record sheet means,

a light means located below said apertures,

a plurality of photocells located above said apertures and said recordsheet means positioned to receive light through said apertures, and

each of said photocells connected to one of said indicators in saidindicating means.

5. The teaching device of claim l, further characterized by said controlmeans including a plurality of contact means, each connected to closethe circuit to an indicator upon actuation; and an electronic relayconnected between said contact means and said indicator. 6. The teachingdevice of claim l, further characterized by said control means includinga plurality of contact means, each connected to close the circuit to anindicator upon actuation;

said contact means including a contact, and

a common conductor adapted for operative contact with said contact tocomplete a circuit to said indicating means;

record sheet means moved past said contact means switch means to detectabsence of record sheet means electrically connected to said contactmeans whereby current is shut off in said plurality of contact meansupon absence of record sheet means.

9. The teaching device of claim 6, further characterized by said commonconductor supported above said contact adapted for operative contactwith said contact upon upward movement of said contact,

said record sheet means having raised portions thereon. 10. The teachingdevice of claim 9, further characterized by said raised portions on saidrecord sheet means having forwardly and rearwardly sloping sides. ll.The teaching device of claim l0, further characterized by said raisedportions on said record sheet means having a longitudinal grooveconnecting said forwardly and rearwardly sloping sides. l2. The teachingdevice of claim 9, further characterized by a pivot rod passing througheach of said contact means, each of said contact means further includingan arm attached to said pivot rod for pivotal motion about said rod andhaving its opposite end connected to said contact for movement of saidcontact with movement of said arm, and a feeler means on said arm belowsaid pivot rod, between said pivot rod and said opposite end of saidarm. 13. The teaching device of claim l, further characterized by saidcontrol means including a keyboard having a plurality of keys similarlyplaced to the keys of the keyboard instrument, pivotal mounting means topivotally support said keys, spring means connected to said keys, and lswitch means operatively located with respect to each of said keys. 14.The teaching device of claim 13, further characterized by an additionalindicating means including simulation of the keys of the keyboardinstrument,

and

a light on each of said simulated keys electrically connected to saidswitch means. 15. The teaching device of claim l, further characterizedby said control means including a plurality of contact means, eachconnected to close the circuit to an indicator upon actuation; saidcontact means including a contact, and

a microswitch actuated by the movement of said contact to complete acircuit to said indicat ing means;

record sheet means having raised portions thereon moved past saidcontact means to move said contact; and means to move said record sheetmeans. 16. The teaching device of claim l5, further characterized by tsaid raised portions each having a longitudinal groove in its topsurface to guide said contact means therein.

17. An indicator for a keyboard musical instrument comprising: anelongated housing, means for mounting said housing over said keyboard, aplurality of indicating means, the external surface of whichcollectively forms the bottom surface of said housing, each of saidindicating means including an indicating arm pivotally mounted on saidhousing, biasing means for holding said arm in a raised, inoperativeposition, and means for lowering said arm adjacent its respective key,indicating said key by exposing the inner surface of said arm.

1. A teaching device for use with a keyboard instrument having aplurality of keys comprising indicating means to indicate the key of thekeyboard instrument to be played; and control means to determine the keyof the keyboard instrument to be played, electrically connected to saidindicating means; said indicating means including a housing for saidindicating means, indicators in said housing located over each of theplurality of keys, and support means to support said housing over thekeys of the keyboard instrument, attached to said housing; saidindicators in said indicating means each including a bulb situated toconcentrate the light from said bulb on a key therebelow, a solenoid andplunger electrically connected to operate in unison with the lighting ofsaid bulb to operate the key with said plunger.
 2. The teaching deviceof claim 1, further characterized by said bulb having lens means to aidthe concentration of the light from said bulb on the key below.
 3. Theteaching device of claim 2, further characterized by said lens meansintegral with said bulb located between the filament and the key in theend opposite from the socket and filament.
 4. The teaching device ofclaim 1, further characterized by record sheet means having openings topass light therethrough moved in said control means; said control meansincluding guide means to guide the movement of said record sheet meansin said control means having a plurality of apertures locatedtransversely of said guide means and the direction of movement of saidrecord sheet means, a light means located below said apertures, aplurality of photocells located above said apertures and said recordsheet means positioned to receive light through said apertures, and eachof said photocells connected to one of said indicators in saidindicating means.
 5. The teaching device of claim 1, furthercharacterized by said control means including a plurality of contactmeans, each connected to close the circuit to an indicator uponactuation; and an electronic relay connected between said contact meansand said indicator.
 6. The teaching device of claim 1, furthercharacterized by said control means including a plurality of contactmeans, each connected to close the circuit to an indicator uponactuation; said contact means including a contact, and a commonconductor adapted for operative contact with said contact to complete acircuit to saiD indicating means; record sheet means moved past saidcontact means to actuate said contact; and means to move said recordsheet means.
 7. The teaching device of claim 6, further characterized bysaid means to move said record sheet means including a pair of opposedrollers positioned to receive said record sheet means therebetween, aconstant speed motor attached to one of said rollers for rotationthereof, and spring mounted means to support the other of said rollersin a track means for reciprocal movement of said other roller.
 8. Theteaching device of claim 6, further characterized by switch means todetect absence of record sheet means electrically connected to saidcontact means whereby current is shut off in said plurality of contactmeans upon absence of record sheet means.
 9. The teaching device ofclaim 6, further characterized by said common conductor supported abovesaid contact adapted for operative contact with said contact upon upwardmovement of said contact, said record sheet means having raised portionsthereon.
 10. The teaching device of claim 9, further characterized bysaid raised portions on said record sheet means having forwardly andrearwardly sloping sides.
 11. The teaching device of claim 10, furthercharacterized by said raised portions on said record sheet means havinga longitudinal groove connecting said forwardly and rearwardly slopingsides.
 12. The teaching device of claim 9, further characterized by apivot rod passing through each of said contact means, each of saidcontact means further including an arm attached to said pivot rod forpivotal motion about said rod and having its opposite end connected tosaid contact for movement of said contact with movement of said arm, anda feeler means on said arm below said pivot rod, between said pivot rodand said opposite end of said arm.
 13. The teaching device of claim 1,further characterized by said control means including a keyboard havinga plurality of keys similarly placed to the keys of the keyboardinstrument, pivotal mounting means to pivotally support said keys,spring means connected to said keys, and switch means operativelylocated with respect to each of said keys.
 14. The teaching device ofclaim 13, further characterized by an additional indicating meansincluding simulation of the keys of the keyboard instrument, and a lighton each of said simulated keys electrically connected to said switchmeans.
 15. The teaching device of claim 1, further characterized by saidcontrol means including a plurality of contact means, each connected toclose the circuit to an indicator upon actuation; said contact meansincluding a contact, and a microswitch actuated by the movement of saidcontact to complete a circuit to said indicating means; record sheetmeans having raised portions thereon moved past said contact means tomove said contact; and means to move said record sheet means.
 16. Theteaching device of claim 15, further characterized by said raisedportions each having a longitudinal groove in its top surface to guidesaid contact means therein.
 17. An indicator for a keyboard musicalinstrument comprising: an elongated housing, means for mounting saidhousing over said keyboard, a plurality of indicating means, theexternal surface of which collectively forms the bottom surface of saidhousing, each of said indicating means including an indicating armpivotally mounted on said housing, biasing means for holding said arm ina raised, inoperative position, and means for lowering said arm adjacentits respective key, indicating said key by exposing the inner surface ofsaid arm.